Rufus

A missing pet of any species is heartbreaking. We generally feel a combination of panic, guilt, desperation and devastation, yet we try to remain hopeful amidst it all. Though challenging, it is important to remain optimistic and to work through all possible avenues to bring your beloved pet back home safely.

This is a story of a family who did everything they possibly could to bring Rufus home, and it paid off. The parents of Rufus acted very quickly and called other family members in and out of their small town asking for support and guidance. This immediate networking provided resources and suggestions which wouldn’t otherwise have been available. Each family member took a bit of the responsibility to contact any resource of which they were aware. This included placing an ad in the local newspaper, requesting an announcement on the local radio station, posting signs around the neighborhood, contacting an animal communicator, and registering Rufus on FindToto.com, a service providing telephone broadcast messages to help bring missing pets home. Through it all the family was pragmatic, knowing the chances of a small bird being identified as a missing pet were slim, but still remaining optimistic that their efforts would be successful.

Low and behold, Rufus was found! He spent one night out on his own, and one night with a very loving gentleman who spotted Rufus sitting on his backyard bird bath and cared for him overnight. Apparently the gentleman mentioned finding Rufus to some family and friends, and this networking led to Rufus’s safe return home. Someone saw the advertisement in the newspaper the next morning, alerted the gentleman, and he returned Rufus promptly to his very happy and welcoming family.

Any of the methods used – signage, newspaper, radio, animal communication, a missing pet service - could have been the method that brought Rufus home. The fact is, we don’t know who may notice our beloved pet and what newspaper ad or sign in the neighborhood they might see. It only takes one to bring our pet home. Broadening the scope of the search by utilizing all methods available as quickly as possible increases the odds that the one person who has seen our pet has also seen at least one sign or newspaper ad or heard one radio announcement or received one phone message from FindToto.com.

It is my hope that none of us ever has to go through the anguish of a missing pet. Should that unforeseen circumstance happen, however, I urge you to network extensively and utilize all possible options, as this family did, to bring your beloved pet home quickly and safely.

Other posts which may be of interest:

• Calling all Missing Pets
• Animal Communication: Katy’s Story

Jezebel and her beautiful smile

Alright, no more excuses. Jezebel has several fewer teeth this week than she did last, and I’m going to be brushing those few remaining teeth every day. She’ll be annoyed at first but I’ll communicate with her that this process is for her good, and she’ll question my logic but she’ll believe me eventually. It’s my responsibility as her guardian to do this for her.

All domestic animals need routine and regular dental care just as humans do. Home dental care and regular dental exams are a must. I love my vet and she’s done great dental work on my beloved animals in the past, but she also knows when to recommend a specialist with appropriate equipment including an x-ray machine with dental capabilities. A visual exam did not reveal the area where a tooth had broken off under the gum-line, leaving the roots intact but dying. Dental x-rays are also important for small mouths (like Jezebel) where tooth roots naturally grow near and even into the jawbone. Your veterinarian may be well equipped to take care of any anticipated and unanticipated dental issues, but if not then take their recommendation for a local veterinary dental specialist.

Every pet needs regular dental care, no matter the age. Pick up a toothbrush from any pet store and schedule appropriate dental exams and cleanings as part of your routine pet health care. Your pet’s beautiful smile will be all the thanks you need!

Other posts which may be of interest:

• Teeth Cleaning for our Animals
• Homeopathic Remedies for Animals
• Flower Essences for Emotional Healing – Part Two

• anxiety or boredom,
• prey drive/hunting instinct, or
• territorialism.

Of course, every animal’s rationale for their behavior is different and it is important to understand what is driving them to react as they do. But quite often the solution involves redirecting the pet to a less destructive, more productive activity. Toys to keep your animal companion challenged, mentally and physically, can be just the ticket.

Consider your pet’s breed, which gives a clue as to their in-bred instinct. Obviously a Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever dog loves to retrieve. It’s great exercise for them to chase balls, Frisbees, and sticks as thrown by their guardians, and until these dogs approach their golden years, they could partake in this activity for hours. You can add more mental challenge for them by rubbing their favorite retrieval item with a food scent and hiding the item. This is great for an retriever dog who might have a bit of anxiety or destructive behavior when you leave them alone for a few hours. Give them the “job” of finding their toy, assisted only by scent, and then guarding or protecting it while you are away.

Other dog breeds may not have a strong retrieval instinct, but may be very motivated by food. Toys that allow a special treat to be locked inside can keep these canines busy and mentally challenged for hours.

Cats have a strong prey drive, and they don’t lose that instinct just because they are indoor cats. Sometimes their frustration at not being able to stalk and hunt builds to a point of frustration and unwanted behaviors can develop, not to mention stalking and hunting is a great way for a cat to keep themselves fit. Scratching posts, catnip toys, and interactive games with their humans are all great, but consider adding some challenge for your kitty by making a simple toy to allow them to express their natural instinct, AND allowing them to reap the final reward at the end. A few bits of dried chicken or their favorite fish flakes in a recycled (empty) water bottle with small punctures for the aroma to escape will keep them redirected from yowling at the window, attacking your visitor’s feet, or scratching the furniture due to boredom. Small, light-weight bottles are all the better for skittering across the kitchen floor, just like a mouse would do. And best of all, if you don’t tighten the lid much, repeated batting and rolling around will eventually allow the lid to come off and the treats will be revealed. This kind of foraging toy, while not identical to hunting a mouse or snake in the garden, will allow your feline to honor his natural instinct for hunting, and a redirection to this game from an unwanted behavior could make your home much more harmonious for all.

If your pet is exhibiting unwanted behaviors and you suspect they are bored, find a mentally challenging game for them which is appropriate for their breed and personal preferences.

Other posts which may be of interest:

• Our Well-Being Affects our Pets
• Flower Essences for Emotional Healing – Part Two
• Flower Essences for Emotional Healing – Part One

Jezebel showing off on her cool mat

Here are some tips:

• Of course, first and foremost, limit your dog’s intense activity during the hottest part of the day. Easier said than done for some very active pooches, I know. But consider a good long walk in the early morning hours to give your companion their required daily exercise while the day is still cool. This will tire them out so they’ll rest during the hotter part of the day.
• Allow access to cooler parts of the house during hot days. Put a dog bed and fresh water in your basement or an interior and/or dark room for your pooch while you are away.
• Check your dog’s water regularly and keep it fresh and plentiful. I drop a few ice cubes in the water bowl through the day to keep it nice and cool. There are gadgets to allow on-demand access to fresh, cold water directly from an outdoor faucet. I’ve not tried or seen these myself, but for some breeds this may be a great solution for regular fresh-water intake. My less high-tech solution is to put a chunk of ice in the outdoor water dish which melts over a few hours, keeping the water cool for a good part of the day.
• Many friends and clients have set up a baby pool – one of those plastic models with 8-10 inch sides – for their dogs to walk through and lay in. Keep the water fresh in case your dog decides to drink instead of swim, and don’t allow your pets to have access to a water-filled pool without adult supervision!
• I set up a floor fan to blow air into the inside portion (a fenced area of my garage) of the dog run when I’m away. The fan is *outside* the gate so there can be no accidents with tails, paws, or tongues wanting to explore. While this is recycled warm air, it does provide cooling from the breeze, and adds an additional benefit of white-noise should I be away when a thunderstorm begins. The fan is positioned to blow on only one side of the containment and the other side remains breeze-free. I’m big on choices for my beloved companions! On particularly hot days, I set a bowl of water in front of the fan for more cooling.
• Some families I know give their furry dogs a haircut in May or June, which grows out through the summer in time for the colder weather. Your dog may not look like himself for a couple of months, but it certainly does help with the heat. Remember though, if you give a short or buzz cut, protect them with sunscreen for the first couple of weeks!
• There are products which seem to do a nice job of keeping dogs cool without getting them wet. Check your local pet store and/or animal supply catalogs for cool mats, rugs, vests, and collars (one version of a cool mat is shown above). My experience with a cool mat has been good, and a 20-minute soak in cold water keeps the mat cool (and dry!) to the touch for up to two days, then another dunk in cool water and we’re good to go for another couple of days. I’ve not tried the vest or collar but the concept is similar and may be the perfect solution for some dogs. Some dogs have expressed in our animal communication session that they prefer or *need* the cooling to come from their belly area. Other dogs hold their heat in their neck area. Choose the style that works best for your furry companion. The material in the mat, vest, etc. may be toxic so choose your style and brand wisely if your pet is a chewer.

These are my tips. If you have tips which keep your extra furry dog cooler on hot summer days, leave a comment!

Other posts which may be of interest:

• Toys to Keep Pets Challenged
• Keeping Our Pets Safe During the Holidays
• Flower Essences for Emotional Healing – Part One

The Collar Companion™ (patent pending) is the brainchild of Wendy England, founder of Daisy Paw, LLC in Colorado. According to Wendy’s bio, she has used aromatherapy on her own animals for years. When her dog, Daisy (ah ha!), developed a chronic skin condition, Wendy wanted to find a way to provide the benefit of aromatherapy without rubbing it directly on Daisy’s sensitive skin.

Now Daisy Paw offers a variety of collar companions for dogs and cats – a contraption which fits right on a collar and allows the guardian to drop oil or essence into the cavity – allowing all the benefits of the oil without the concern of ingesting or causing irritation to the skin.

So if you are about to administer a flower essence, essential oil, or perhaps one of the Daisy’s Blends essential oils produced by Daisy Paw, consider a collar companion* to make your life, and the life of your beloved four-legged companion, much easier!

* Wendy has tested and guarantees the collar companions when used with the Daisy’s Blend line. 

Other posts which may be of interest:

• Flower Essences for Emotional Healing – Part One
• Danger for Cats: Essential Oils
• Flower Essences for Emotional Healing – Part Two

I’ve been participating in and following a blog, Web of Love, which gathers together blogs and resources related to animal communication. As the blog creator, Sonja Rantila, explained to me about the Web of Love,

 The purpose [of the blog] is to spread knowledge about how wonderful and important [animal communication] is.

I encourage you to check out this blog periodically and browse through the list of topics being shared each week. Every animal communicator has a wide variety of experiences and stories, and you may just find one on the Web of Love which makes you laugh, think, or have just a bit more appreciation for your beloved pets. 

Enjoy!

Other posts which may be of interest:

• Animal Communication Over The Phone – Seriously?
• Interview with Kelly about Animal Communication
• New Class: Basic Animal Communication for Daily Living – Dec. 8, 2009